Does this Red Squirrel have squirrel pox?

[Trik]

Seen today on Brownsea Island by The Villa. She only has one forepaw, although the limb looks clean and healthy and she certainly was not lethargic and was eating well. What concerns me is the pink, furless, area around her mouth. Is this a sign of squirrel pox?



Trik

[Wild-Woman]

The squirrel looks tip top condition to me. The fur looks lush and shiny and it's eating well by the looks of things. I doubt if there is pox on Brownsea.

[Trik]

That`s good to know. As you say, it is doubtful there is squirrel pox on Brownsea, but I wanted to be sure. I got some lovely close shots (albeit on a bird feeder) but would not want to save them if I knew she was ill.

Any ideas as to why the area around her mouth is bare and pink? Incidentally, the left side doesn`t look as bad as the right.

Thanks for the reply.
Trik

[Red Squirrel]

Here's some info on squirrel pox Trik.Scottish Squirrel Survey. Squirrel Pox

The lips on your squirrel look fine to me. Generally they have short, fine and hardly discernible hair on the lips.

[Trik]

This is the first close look at a squirrel`s mouth I`ve had. I did not realise they had "Mick Jagger" lips! To me, they looked a bit like scar tissue.

Thanks for reassurance and the link.

Trik

[Brocakat]

Much more likely to be an Isolated population on an island.

( How does squirrel pox spread? From one squirrel to another? Or is it an airborne thing ? )